WB Devt News 9/1/99 NATION-WIDE STRIKE BRINGS COLOMBIA TO A STANDSTILL. Colombia yesterday woke up to virtual silence yesterday, as the country?s labor unions began the first day of an indefinite national strike in protest at the government?s political, social, and economic agenda, reports the Financial Times (p.4). The unions also want the government to declare a moratorium on the payment of its internal and external debt, a petition seen as a direct attack on an imminent agreement with the IMF to secure a loan of up to $3 billion. The Fund has made the loan conditional upon severe budgetary adjustment, fiscal reform, and modification of social legislation, adds Le Monde (p.2), noting that a delegation from the IMF that was expected this week in Bogotá, will now continue the negotiations in Washington. ------------------------------------------ Neil Watkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Preamble Center 1737 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel - (202) 265-3263 x280 Fax - (202) 265-3647 Web - http://www.preamble.org To join the Preamble Center's listserv for announcements and updates on new research and activities, access http://www.preamble.org/subscribe.htm. ------------------------------- Robert Naiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Preamble Center 1737 21st NW Washington, DC 20009 phone: 202-265-3263 x277 fax: 202-265-3647 http://www.preamble.org/ -------------------------------
